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Every day there seems to be a lot of news – both negative and positive – related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lately, the bad news is that the most contagious delta variant is causing a wave of new cases and hospitalizations, especially among people who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine. The good news is that more and more people are getting vaccinated daily, but not enough to end the pandemic.
While those who are fully vaccinated – at least 2 weeks have passed since receiving their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine – largely avoid infection, there is a low risk of “revolutionary infections”. . “And not all vaccinated people will have the same experience if they are exposed to the coronavirus.
Everyone reacts differently when exposed to a virus. Some people will be infected, others will not. Some will experience symptoms that others will not, or will experience them to a lesser or greater severity than others. The important thing to remember is that vaccination is very effective in protecting you against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Any breakthrough case will likely result in no symptoms or very mild symptoms.
What do the numbers tell us?
As the number of cases increases – mainly among the unvaccinated, but also among a very small number of people who have been fully vaccinated – a recent report showed that the rate of cases among those vaccinated is less than 1% in all. states that follow breakthrough cases. .
Additionally, in states that cross the United States, about 90-99% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 are not vaccinated. Among the small percentage of people hospitalized who have been vaccinated, many have other risk factors, such as old age, chronic illness or a weakened immune system.
Are vaccines still working?
With this slight increase in breakthrough infections, many have wondered whether the protection initially provided by vaccines has diminished over time. While vaccines remain extremely effective in preventing serious illness and death, they may not be as effective in preventing infection or transmission as they were before the emergence of the delta variant.
However, experts agree that vaccine efficacy is still considered impressive, even against the delta variant. Vaccines are currently 79% effective against COVID-19 infection and 88% effective against symptomatic COVID-19, according to a recent British study.
It is more likely that the unique characteristics of the delta variant are responsible for the increase in cases, both in the unvaccinated and in the vaccinated. Unlike the original coronavirus that causes COVID-19 or its other variants, studies show the delta variant:
- Is more contagious for adults and children
- Is associated with a higher viral load of infection and a longer phase of transmissibility (may spread more widely and faster)
- Can cause infections in vaccinated people which spread as easily as infections in unvaccinated people
- Can cause more serious illness
These differences led the Centers for Disaster Control and Prevention recognize that “the war has changed”. In their view, the focus must now be on vaccinating as many people as possible, but also on encouraging people to identify their own personal risk – and the risk to their loved ones – of serious illness, and to take measures to reduce this risk.
This means that everyone, vaccinated or not, must consider the rate of transmission of COVID-19 in their community and the rate of vaccination of those around them, and act accordingly. The CDC now recommends that fully immunized people wear a mask in indoor public spaces, which is especially crucial if people are at increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19 or if they have someone in their household who is at increased risk of serious illness or is not fully immunized. This includes children under 12, who are not yet eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Additionally, people who have been vaccinated should get tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19, including headache, sore throat, runny nose and fever. Vaccinees should also be tested 3-5 days after known exposure to a person suspected or confirmed of COVID-19 and wear a mask in indoor public places and around others for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.
Do vaccinated people need a booster?
While the Food and Drug Administration has amended the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow fully vaccinated people with weakened immune systems to receive a third dose, and the CDC recently recommended that people who have received the Pfizer vaccine mRNA and are 65 years of age or older, live in a long-term care facility or are at increased risk of serious illness be given a booster, officials say they will continue to review the data before approving an additional dose of vaccine for all fully immunized populations.
It is undeniable that community spread, as well as the increase in hospitalizations and deaths, is mainly occurring among the unvaccinated. Thus, our first priority is to ensure that these people receive their first and second doses pending further information on the need for a booster for all those already vaccinated.
Vaccinating as many people as possible within communities will not only save lives, but will also slow the spread of COVID-19, prevent the development of new variants, and allow us to return to normal more quickly. If you haven’t already, please get vaccinated.
Jyotu Sandhu, MD, is a family physician with Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group.
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Sources 2/ https://timesofsandiego.com/health/2021/10/09/doctor-vaxxed-have-low-risk-of-covid-breakthrough-but-keep-a-mask-handy/ The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
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